Pillbox and Trench System

Trench system and pillbox built as part of coastal crust defences in 1940.

Year of construction

1940

Protected status

No

Accessibility

Good

During 1940, when the threat of German invasion was at its greatest, the coast was hurriedly put into a state of readiness by the building of concrete pillboxes, trench systems and beach obstacles known as the ‘coastal crust’. At Hoist Covert a small part of these defences are well-preserved.

Until May 1940 little thought had been given to anti-invasion defence and those troops that were on the coast were there to keep watch and spend time training. The men stationed in and around Walberswick were from the 2nd/4th battalion the South Lancashire Regiment, who had only moved into Suffolk in April.

The defence of Walberswick was the responsibility of ‘C’ company (about 120 men) who were spread out in a thin line stretching from the mouth of the Blyth to here at Hoist Covert. These remains stand the extreme right flank of the company line; from here the ground slopes down to what would have been flooded marshland. It is a natural strongpoint that could be easily defended.

The position was a section post for ten infantrymen. The main defensive work is a long fire trench that had been partially filled in, but whose outline is easily traced. A shorter section of communication trench connects this fire trench to the concrete pillbox. The pillbox is known as a ‘Suffolk Square’, which is a design unique to 558 Field Company Royal Engineers, who were based in the county in 1940. Inside, the shelf for the occupants to rest their rifles on while firing can be seen, as well as a hook in the ceiling that was for a lantern or light. Originally the whole position would have been surrounded with barbed wire. In action, eight soldiers from the ten man section were positioned in the trench, with the remaining two in the pillbox; only in the event of an air raid were all troops permitted to enter the pillbox.

Excavation has shown that the fire trench was over two metres deep and had a firestep which the troops would use when at their battle positions. In the invasion summer of 1940, the defenders were required to be within five minutes of their post at all times. There were also no plans made for withdrawal; in the event of invasion, the men were expected to fight until they were killed or captured.

Historical research and archaeological excavation have shown that the position was built at slightly different times. The main fire trench was started on 10th May 1940 and was finished in June. In July 1940 the pillbox was added and at the same time the short section of communication trench was excavated to link up the two features. Hoist Covert is a rare opportunity to see a pillbox with its adjacent trench system intact. Originally, these kinds of defences were much more common, but today only few survive.

The planned German invasion of 1940 never happened and in 1941 Britain’s anti-invasion defences were re-organised. A new system based on all round defence of key points was initiated which had a greater emphasis on mobile reserves inland. The village of Walberswick continued to be defended, but the Hoist Covert position was abandoned. During the latter part of the war, the trench and pillbox were a ready-made practice fortification and were used as target practice for mock assaults by troops training for D-Day. The bullet marks on the western face of the pillbox are not the result of a German invasion, but rather British troops using it for target practice.

After 1945 the area of the former section post was slowly covered with undergrowth and light woodland. This process led to the earthworks being preserved and they are now a rare survival from a time when it was widely believed that Britain was going to be invaded.